Rotary index



E. R. SMITH.

ROTARY INDEX; APPLICATION mso JUNE exovl 1920.- v v 1,414,754. A Patented May 2, 1922. a sums-snm n.

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ROTARY INDEX.

APPLlcAnoN man lune so, 1920.

Patented. May 2, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. E. R. SMITH.

`ROTARY INDEX. A

APPLICATION man JUNE 30.1920.

- Pmi-,ea May 2;"1922.

3- SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EVE/170k j? [AH lTE ERNEST R. SMITH, 0F SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA. v

ROTARY INDEX.

Application filed June 30, 1920.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST R. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Rotary Index, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary indexes wherein a plurality of radially extending leaves are rotatably and hingedly connected to a standard or frame and are arranged to receive and display variously sized display units containing matter to be displayed, such as maps, general information, advertisements or other data.

rIhe primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotary index of the character described and constructed from a few parts of simple, cheap and effective construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotary index wherein the hinge portions are formed or stamped out of the sheet metal forming the leaf thereby effecting a saving of material and the cost of assemblage and simultaneously adding to the strength and reducing the weight of moving parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved means for readily detaching any leaf independently of the other leaves of the index.

It is also an objectto provide a plurality of variously sized detachable display units whereby any portion of the data displayed may be removed or changed independently of the remaining data and display units.

A still further object is to provide leaves for a rotary index having means whereby variously sized indices or index tabs may be readily attached and detached and positioned at different points on different leaves.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference .are'usedto designate similar parts throughout the said specification and drawings, and which;

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved rotary index;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken detailed view disclosing the first step in forming one of the hinge lugs integral with the leaf;

Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing the sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Serial No. 393,444.

ond step in the formation of said lug and a lreirfiforcing element for the edges of the Fig. l isa similar view disclosing the completed channel formed with integral hinge ugs;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken plan view of the index disclosing the manner in which the leaves are positioned relatively to each other;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken detailed View of one of the leaves disclosing the manner in which the variously sized display units are detachably mounted upon the leaves; Fig. 7 is a vertical broken sectional View through the upper portion of one of the leaves disclosing the manner in which one of the variously sized display units is detachably connected to said leaves;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged broken view, partly in section, disclosing the manner in which the leaves are rotatably mounted upon the standard and detachably and hingedly connected thereto; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged broken perspective view disclosing the manner in which apertures are provided for attachment of the variously sized indices or index tabs.

Referring to the drawings the numeral l is used to designate a suitable base plate having a vertically disposed tabular standard or frame 2 extending upwardlyl therefrom, said frame 2 being provided with an annular flange 3, at an elevation, to support a suitable ball bearing 4: upon which rests a second annular flange 6, having a depending annular flange 7 to prevent the entrance of dust or other debris to the ball bearings l, secured to the lower end of a sleeve 8 rotatably mounted upon the standard 2 and having upper and lower annular flanges 1l and 9 respectively, said flanges 11 and 9 being provided'with apertures 12 spaced at regular intervals .adjacent the peripheries of said flanges, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The leaves 14: are preferably rectangular in shape and formed of a comparatively thin sheet of metal or other suitable material of light weight so that said leaves 14 may be easily voperated or swung upon their hinges or rotated, with the sleeve 8, around the standard 2. l

In order to provide a simple, cheap, light and effective construction for the leaves 14 said leaves are provided with a reinforcing channel comprising a web portion 16 and a flange portion 17 formed by turning up parallel portions of the edges of the sheet of which the leaf 14: is formed, thereby providing a channel edge of which the portion 1G forms the web and the portion 17 the flange or ieg portion of said channel.

To provide an integrally formed hinge and save the cost of as emblage and thereby provide a stronger and lighter hinge member, the web portions-16 are extended and reduced in width and then turned downvwardly after the channel has been formed to provide integral lugs 18 at the upper and lower inner' corners of each leaf.

By means of this novel arrangement and construction a simple, cheap, light and effective hinge member is formed for hingedly connecting the leaves 14C to the annular flanges 11 and 9, said lugs being inserted in the apertures 12 Vwithin the said flanges disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Each leaf 1/1 is provided with a series of horizontally disposed suspending members or rods 19 as disclosed in Figs. 1, l1, 6 and 8 of the drawings.

Each leaf 14- is likewise provided adjacent the free edges thereof with a series of regularly spaced apertures 21 which may be formed by struck up portions in the outer free edge or on both the outer free edge and the inner surface of the flange 17 adjacent :said free edge as disclosed in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

Lateral extensions or lugs 22 of variously sized. indices or index tabs 23 are tightly inserted within the apertures 21 and at once form a means of moving the leaves and bearing data indicative of the subject matter of the lea-f to which it is attached. As one leaf may bear a greater number of different subjects of display matter than some of the other leaves it is obvious that by means of this novel arrangement the entire subject matter of any given leaf may be suitably indexed.

Screwed or otherwise detachably mounted upon the upper end of the standard 2 and above the top of the sleeve 8 rotatably mounted thereon, is a knob 211 having an annular flange 26 arranged to prevent raising and removal f the upper lugs 18 from the apertures 12 within the upper flange 11 secured to said sleeve 8, thereby normally preventing detachment of said leaves.

By removing the knob 24 a suflicient distance any lea-f 16 may be easily and readily removed independently of the remaining` leaves in the index.

Detachably mounted upon the horizontal suspending members 19 are series of variously sized display units 27 having spring clips 28 formed integral with 'the upper edges thereof to detachablv engage one of inleven said members 19, while the lower edges of said members or display units 27 are provided with oflset portions 29 also formed integrally therewith and arranged 'to rest back of an adjacent suspending member 19 to prevent outward swinging of said display units when the leaves 14 are moved.

rlhe lengths of the display units may be any multiple of the distance or distances between the regularly disposed horizontal members 19 so` that display units of various lengths may be used according to the amount of data contained thereon.

rlhe width of said display units may be of any width within the width of the leaf 14: thereby providing a series of displaying surfaces for maps, advertisements or the like, which may be readily adapted to the amount of space required for such display.

The display units are formed preferably of Celluloid, aluminum, or any other light, flexible material to reduce the yweig t of the leaves 14; to a minimum.

The rear or back surfaces of the leaves 14 may be used as a whole in displaying large matter. while the smaller display units may be used to display matter not requiring such larOe space. i

ln operation the operator turns the entire set or series of leavesand the sleeve 8 upon the standard 2 by means of the indices or index tabs 23 until the required leaf, as indicated by its. index tab 23, is attained. The leaves 14 are then opened as disclosedin Fig. 5 of the drawings, thereby rendering the required leaf accessible and conspicuous.

rlhe leaves 14C with their reinforcing webs 16 and flanges 17 provide a light, compact and effective construction easily movable, and cheaply constructed.

The flanges 3, 6, 9V and 11 as well as the standard 2 and sleeve 8 may be of standard pipe fittings thereby eliminating the neces sity of constructing special parts.

l-laving thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A rotary index comprising a suitable standard; an apertured element rotatably mounted upon the standard; a plurality of leaves having lugs formed integral with the upper and lower inner corners to rotatably engage the aper ures in the rotatable element and likewise horizontal members; and a plurality of variously sized units adapted to detachably engage and be suspended from said horizontal members, and arranged to display subject mat-ter of said index.

2. A rotary index comprising asuitable standard; an apertured element rotatably mounted upon the standard; a plurality of leaves having lugs formed integral with the upper and lower inner corners to rotatably engage the apertures in the rotatable element and likewise having horizontal mem- Lemma bers; and a plurality of variously sized units adapted to detachably engage and be suspended from said horizontal members, and arranged to display subject matter of said index; and means for engaging the upper lugs of the leaves to prevent removal of the same from their apertures.

3. The combination with a rotary index having a plurality of radial leaves hingedly and rotatably connected thereto of horizontally disposed suspending members mounted on said leaves; and variously sized units adapted for detachable suspension from said horizontal members'whereby any portion of the subject matter of said index may be removed and Changed.

4. The combination with a rotary index of a plurality of leaves radially and hingedly connected to said index and having struck up portions to provide apertures at regular intervals adjacent the free edges or' said leaves; and variously sized index tabs arranged with said apertures whereby tabs may be attached at different positions on different leaves.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my signature.

ERNEST R. SMITH. 

